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SERMON, 



DELIVERED IN THE 



Second ^nvluft Mtttins^mm in Xloioles^ 



XOBB'S HAT. nXARCK 27, 1831. 



@^ 3SiXii<@ @lSiiSaiiS7« 



^' ?^atiet?fim; 



PRINTED AT THE ESSEX GAZETTE OFriCE, BY A. W. THAYER. 
18 31. 






Rev. Isaac Braman : Sir—In pursuance of a vote of a respectable 
number of the citizens of this parish, at a meeting held at the house of 
Major Paul JVelson, on the 28th instant, the undersigned, in behalf of 
said meeting, respectfully request a copy of the Sermon delivered by you, 
on Sunday afternoon last, for the press. 

In granting our request. Sir, you will gratify your friends, and sub- 
serve the general good. Respectfully your$, 

JEREMIAH RUSSELL,^ 
AMOS J. TEJVJVEY, V Committee. 
LUTHER ROGERS, > 
JVew-Rowley, March 28, 1831. 



Genvl-emen:—: The following Discourse, preached, as it was, to a thin 
audience, on a rainy day, you will readily believe, was not designed for 
the press, nor expected to excite any very special attention, even in this 
Society. Rut, learning from you that it will gratify my friends, and 
confiding in your judgment, that it may be productive of some good, 
comply with your polite request for its publication. m 

I am. Gentlemen, with due respect, yours, ISAAC JBRAMAJV. 

Jeremiah Russell, Esquire, 

Amos J. Tenuey, Esquire, 

Doctor Luther Rogers. 



SERMOJf. 



Mark ix. 1. *^nd he said unto theirty verily I say unto you, that 
there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, 
till they have seen the kingdom of God come ivith power. 
Our Saviour spoke these words. They appear to have been ad- 
dressed to his disciples and to others that were gathered around 
him. In regard to the precise meaning of them, or when, or how, 
they were to be accompHshed, there has been some discrepance of 
opinion. A verse in Matthew, which is evidently parallel to this, 
though expressed a little differently, has been thought by one at 
least, a distinguished and learned man, to refer to the end of the 
world; and the declaration that some should not taste of death, till 
the event predicted had taken place, he considered as applying to 
the wicked, who, at the final consummation, or after the general 
judgment, shall receive such an increase of punishment, that their 
previous sufferings, however intense, can hardly be called a taste 
of the second death. Others have supposed that the words as re- 
corded by Mark, which are to be the subject of our present medi- 
tations,relate to the outpouring of the Spirit, and to the building of 
the Redeemer's kingdom on earth; while the greater part of in- 
telligent men, if I mistake not, have understood our Saviour's lan- 
guage related by the several evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and 
Luke, as referring to his coming to the destruction of Jerusalem. 
If either of the two last interpretations be correct, it was literally true 
that some of the persons then present would not die, till they saw 



the accomplishment of the prediction. Some of the twelve disci- 
ples, John for instance, lived till after Jerusalem was destroyed, 
and the Jewish polity overturned by the Romans; and all of them 
except Judas, saw the kingdom of God come with power by the 
conversion of multitudes, who were brought into it, and became 
obedient subjects. The great revival of rehgion produced by the 
preaching of Peter, on the day of Pentecost, was a strikmg in- 
stance of this; and others of less notoriety soon followed in va- 
rious places. The ruin of the Jewish nation by the destruction of 
this capital, which our Saviour seems to have had principally in 
view, opened the way for the establishment of his kingdom in the 
world, and doubtless conduced to the furtherance of the gospel. 

When the cause of Christ is rendered unusually prosperous, by 
whatever means; when there is a genuine revival of religion, then 
the kingdom of God ma3?J>e-said to have come with power. No one 
is authorised to address you, my friends, as our Saviour did those 
about him, and say, you shall certainly see such a time, before 
you taste of death or launch into eternity. He knew all things; 
future events are wisely hidden from us, that we may be on the 
alert, and prepare to meet our (jod in every visitation of his pro- 
vidence. Not any of us are sure, that we shall ever witness an- 
other conversion in this place during our day. For ought we 
know, all that are now living without God in the world will die in 
their sins and perish. But we have a right to hope, and labor, and 
pray,that ii may be otherwise, that God would appear in his glory to 
built up Zion in the midst of us. Should he be graciously pleased 
to do this, your eyes may see it, and you will see great things, 
which will fill your hearts with wonder and amazement. 

It « likely you wUl see christians mwe than ordinanly awake, en- 
gaged in humble, ferrent prayer, and in various efforts to promote 
the cause of religion. This may be the first intimation you will 
have of what God is about to do. It is often, if not invariably the 
case, when God is about to arise in his strength and make a pow- 
erful and successful attack upon the kingdom of darkness, that he 
stirs up his people to pray for it, and to unite with him in the en- 
terprise. He could do the work alone, but he chooses they should 
have the honor of being co-workers with him, and by their prayers 
avail much to the producing of a favorable result. Christ, the 
great Captain of our Salvation, though quite able to subdue his 
foes alone, and cause them to bow in submission to him, will have 



soldiers under him, whose weapons are not carnal, but spiritual, 
and mighty through God, to the pulling down of the enemy's stron 
holds, delivering many from the power of darkness, and bringing 
them into the kingdom of light. Hence it is, that he is sometimes 
pleased to revive the graces of the Spirit in his friends, thus prepar- 
ing them for vigorous action, befdre jie undertakes to subdue the 
hearts of his enemies, bringing them into subjection to his will. 
The life and activity of christians,in the cause they profess to love 
may be a means of awakening sinners, and leading them to serious 
consideration and inquiry concerning their own moral condition. 
Seeing those who are denominated followers of Christ truly devo- 
ted to his service, and seeking his glory, they are led to think there 
must be something more in religion than mere profession, and that 
it is highly important for themselves to obtain an interest in it. 
Thus, in the song of Solomon, the afFettitJnate earnestness of the 
church, in seeking her beloved Savdour, and in speaking forth his 
praises, is represented as exciting others to make inquiries after 
him. "Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among wo- 
men ? whither is thy Beloved turned aside, that we may seek him 
with thee?" Most probably then, my friends, if there is to be a 
revival of religion here in your day, when the kingdom of God 
shall come with power, the first appearances of it will be seen in 
christians, who will be stirred up to prepare the way of the Lord, 
and to make his paths straight, to take up the stumbling blocks, and, 
so far as depends on them, to remove every obstacle, that the King 
of glory may come, and ride forth in his chariot of salvation, con- 
quering and to conquer. You will find them, so far as you have 
the means of knowing their feelings, exceedingly desirous of such 
an event, and at the same time deeply sensible of their dependance 
upon the power and grace of God to produce it. They will, there- 
fore, be importunate in their prayers, that he would appear for 
them and revive his work. 

Sometimes it has been the case with those, who it was hoped 
were not entire strangers to God, that they appeared to feel too 
great a degree of self-confidence in this thing, as though they 
were able of themselves, to open the windows of heaven, and pour 
out, or draw down, this great blessing upon a wicked world. The 
language that has been uttered, in regard to getting up a revival, 
has, not unfrequently, savoured too much of such a spirit. But 
this is not inviting the Lord to come and do wonders among them. 



It is rather saying to him, stand off, we can do the work alone, 
and need none of thy help. It is calculated to provoke him to de- 
part further from them, to take away his Holy Spirit, and let them 
try their own strength, till they are convmced of their weakness 
and folly, and may be disposed to look to Him alone as the author 
of all good. A church or individuals, cherisliing a spirit so oppo- 
site to that of the gospel, might be instrumental of causing an ex- 
citement among the people, of enkindling a blind and frantic zeal, 
which might be mistaken for religion; but would not be likely to 
obtain a genuine revival, resulting in many real conversions to the 
cause of Christ. 

When the people of God are truly engaged, desiring and seek- 
ing for the outpourings of his Spirit to promote his cause, there 
will be among them great searchings of heart, and mourning for 
their sins. This may not always be visible to the world, but it 
will be known to themselves, and will be a subject on which their 
minds are intensely occupied. Instead of being forward to com- 
plain of the coldness and deadness of the-ehurch, or of particular 
members, each one will be more disposed to complain of himself, 
and to weep for the sins which easily beset him. He will careful- 
ly examine himself, and endeavor to ascertain what are his trans- 
gressions, and omissions of duty, that h^^.may repent of them, and 
reform. Doubtless we ought to mourn that inquity abounds in the 
world, and in the society to which we belong. It is just cause of 
grief, that the love of many called christians, waxes cold. There 
ought to be no lukewarmness among professors of religion; every 
soul should be alive to God. But after all, what are the sins of 
others to us, in comparison with our own ^ It is by no means a 
favorable symptom, for us to manifest more anxiety and distress for 
the sins of our brethren, than for those for which ourselves are ac- 
countable. Probably there is not one of us, but would, if faithful 
in his researches, find more in himself for condemnation and peni- 
tential sorrow, than he is able to discover in the members of the 
church generally. " And why beholdest thou the mote that is in 
thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own 
eye ? — cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt 
thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye." 
This disposition to search for sins in others, rather than in ourselves, 
is not the christian spirit, nor can it justly be considered as a pre- 
lude to a revival. 



Christians, it may be expected, will have a zeal for God, an en- 
lightened, well directed zeal, which will lead them to seek his glo- 
ry, and the interest of his kingdom, by striving against sin, by a 
uniform and conscientious observance of duty, moral and rehgious, 
not only in public, but also in their famihes and in secret, while 
they wOl depend on free grace in Christ Jesus for a blessing on 
these means, and for their final salvation. In all things, they will 
endeavor to let their light shine by an exemplary behaviour, and 
by commending religion w4th the mouth, as they have opportuni- 
ty. This is the way in which their holy zeal will operate, rather 
than in sudden and occasional flashes, that appear for a moment, 
and then are gone. A sincere engagedness in the service of God, 
and prayerful exertions to build up his cause, are to be commended 
and encouraged. There cannot be too much of this spirit; let it 
be cherished and prevail. But that zeal which ebbs and flows Hke 
the tide, is of no great value. Nor is that which inclines more to 
occasional public display, than to exhibit itself by a serious and 
conscientious regard to duty in all things. 

A person living c0»s*93Tt4y in a temperate climate, is more like- 
ly to enjoy health and vigour, and to perform more useful labour 
in a given time, than one who is to-day in the torrid, and to-mor- 
row in the frigid zone , an^/who is thus alternately and frequent- 
ly transported from one, extreme to the other. Such sudden 
changes from heat to cold will be apt to unnerve the system; and 
he will be able to eflect but little, whatever be the object of pur- 
suit. So the calm and sober christian, who is continually press- 
ing forward in mi «ndeviating course of virtue and piety, bids fair 
to make swifter progress in sanctification, and to do more for the 
honor and promotion of religion, than one whose heart seems now 
to burn with a flame which nothing can quench, and anon, to be 
cold and hard as the frost of winter, emitting neither heat nor light, 
nor any thing, that can be turned to account in the semce of God. 
The zeal which God approves is warm and animating, but not os- 
tentatious like that of Jehu — not turbulent and noisy. It is con- 
sistent and uniform, manifesting itself in the habitual good con- 
duct of his people, causing them to be very circumspect and ex- 
emplary in their life and conversation, to avoid that which is evil, 
to be upright and kind, and to attend strictly to the duties of di- 
vine worship in public, in the family, and in the closet. There 
are special occasions, however, when it will operate by a more 



8 

than usual fervency 'of spirit, in prayer, in religious conversation, 
and in serving the Lord in the way of his appointment. Such oc- 
casions, among others,- are, when they are excited to seek the 
Lord for the outpouring of his Spirit to the conversion of sinners, 
and when there is an actual revival of religion. As has been sug- 
gested, God often begins a revival in his own people. But if he 
should choose to deviate from his usual method, and first arrest 
the attention of the ungodly, bringing them to bow at the foot of 
the cross, it will have an effect upon his friends, to engage them 
more earnestly in his cause, and to strive together in prayer for 
the carrying on of the work, and for the promoting of the faith of 
the gospel. Hence, should you live to see the kingdom of God 
come with power, to make the wicked tremble and submit, you 
will, doubtless, witness the activity of christians in the good work, 
and the ardor of their devotion, in prayer, and in other religious 
service. 

You will see many who xcill he greatly troubled in mind. Some, per- 
haps, who had been given to vice, who drank in iniquity like wa- 
ter, practrcally setting the law of Grodnt^efiancs^ wiU be sudden- 
ly filled with terror, and led to inquire if there is any mercy for 
them. Others, of more correct and moral habits, who thought 
themselves, and were thought by their friends, to be in the way of 
life, crying peace to their souls, will be awakened, convinced of 
their errors, and anxious to know what they shall do to obtain the 
forgiveness of sin. It is true, Grod is not limited to human rules, 
nor to any particular mode in delivering sinners from the power of 
darkness, and translating them into the kingdom of his dear Son. 
He might, if he pleased, change them in a moment, transforming 
them from rebels to willing subjects, without any previous special 
exercise of mind, in regard to the importance and necessity of the 
thing. I know not that we are authorised to say, this is never the 
case-, though as far as the agency of the creature is concerned, it 
seems rational to suppose, he must see the need of repentance,be- 
fore he will exercise it, and of an interest in the Saviour, before 
he will embrace him. After his conversion, however, he will see 
things in a true light, if not before. He will be sincerely grieved 
for his sins, will believe in Christ, and be sensible there is salva- 
tion in no other. But in most cases, and probably always, where 
there is a powerful revival of religion, there are many who have 
great sorrow and anguish of spirit in view of their deplorable situ* 



9 

ation before they obtain joy ancl peace in believing. The sinner 
is awakened by divine truth, brought home to fiis mind and con- 
science. He is enlightened to see ihat he is guilty before God, 
that he is, and ever has been, a servant of sin, that he is an ac- 
countable being, that God is angry with him, and that he is expos- 
ed to everlasting indignation and wrath. He perceives €hat the 
law of God condemns him, and, if he has true conviction, he is 
sensible that he is justly condemned, that justice demands he should 
be cut of? and destroyed, that he is unfit for the enjoyments and 
employments of heaven, and that in his present moral condition 
God cannot consistently save him, or receive him to favour. Such 
views of one's self and of his prospects in the world to come,when 
deeply impressed upon the mind, cannot oe otherwise than ex- 
ceedingly distressing. Who car endure the thought of being in 
the hands of the Ahiiighty and living G jd, justly incensed against 
him for his disobedience and opposition to the divine character and 
law ? Why do we woncler that the convinced sinner, sensible as 
he is of his ill desert, and filled with dreadful forebodings, should 
be greatly agitate(|.^iijd ^d^tmed, and solicitous to escape ihttj)un- 
ishment threatened ? Such was the state of those in the apostles 
day, who were brought under conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit 
infusing light into the mi^d, and making a powerful application of 
divine truth. Oh one occasion, thousands,.pricked in their hearts, 
cried out. Men, and brethren, v/hat shall we do .'' On another oc- 
casion, one came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
though his prisoners, and said. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 
Should the kingdom of God come with power in this place, before 
you taste of death, you will see many such distressed and trembling 
souls; those too, who had cast off* fear, and restrained prayer be- 
fore God, and who, perhaps, had thought lightly of vital religion. 
They may not fall down at the feet of any one ; it will not be proper 
they should, except indeed at the feet of Jesus. But pierced with 
the word of the Spirit, they will inquire with eagerness, where they 
may find a healing balm for their bleeding hearts; or how they may- 
obtain deliverance from their fears and sorrows, and the hope of 
eternal life. 

Some new-horn soul you will see rejoicing in God. Having pass- 
ed through a scene of terror and painful anxiety, some of a longer, 
and some of a shorter period, they are delivered from the yoke of 
bondage, and brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. 
The Holy Spirit, whose office it is to renew and sanctify, and im- 
part divine consolation to the humble, having shown them their 
2 



10 

criminality and peril, their self-ruined and helpless condition, help- 
less in regard to their ov n strength,- has graciously led them to 
him who is mighty to save. Laboring and heavy laden, and ready 
to perish, they have gene to Christ, and found rest to their souls, 
with all needed help. In him they have redemption and the for- 
giveness of sins — have eviden.ce that the anger of God is turned 
away, and that he has caused his face to shine upon them, that he 
will acquit them through the merits of the Redeemer in the great 
day, and grant them the portion of his children. A new £uid de- 
lightful prospect now opens to them, and all things have a new and 
different appearance. Their feelings, affections, and passions are 
changed. The burden of guilt upOn their conscience is removed, 
their fear is changed to hope, their mourning to joy. Their hearts, 
which had a most painful dread of the Holy One, and a desire that 
he would depart from them, are now drawn to him by love. They 
rejoice in his presence, and in the manifestation of his kind and tender 
regard. Great pleasure have they in fLxing their thoughts upon 
him, in drawing near to him by prayer and holy converse, in study- 
ing to know more of his character and of his truth, in seeking his 
glory, in doing his will, and endeavoring to grow into his moral 
likeness. Lovmg God and his law, his service is pleasant to them; 
pleasant in itself, and as conducing to the honor of his name. 
Converts rejoice that their stout hearts are subdued, that their 
loftiness is bowed down, and their haughtiness humbled, and that 
the Lord alone is exalted by the happy change wrought in them. 
Readily and cheerfully, do they give him the glory of their conver- 
sion, acknowledging it was not by might, nor by power of their 
own, but by his Holy Spirit, that the great work was done. "Not 
unto us, not unto us, but to thy name give glory." Happy in 
their intercourse with God here, and in experiencing the tokens 
of his love, they have an ardent desire to dwell with him forever, 
and rejoice in the hope that this inestunable good will not be denied 
them. We have, perhaps all of us, witnessed the joy manifested by 
such as believed they had found the Saviour, and that he was pre- 
cious to their souls, who trusted that he would never cast them 
off or forsake them, but that he would protect them from evil, sup- 
port them by his grace, feed them with the bread and water of 
life, and keep them by his power through faith unto salvatic«i. 
What pure, sublime, and heart-ravishing joy was theirs, compared 
with that which the grovelling pleasures of the world can afford; 
compared with the laughter of fools, which is said to be as. the 
crackling of thorns under a pot, noisy, transient, and vain, effect- 
ing nothing valuable at the time, soon extinguished, and leaving 



11 

no good behind ! The joy of believers is substantial and perma- 
nent; it shall never pass away, but continue to increase, till it be- 
comes great beyond what eye hath seen, o^- ear heard, or heart 
conceived, in the paradise of God. The apostle speaks of their 
rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, meaning the glory that shall 
hereafter be revealed. Such joyful souls will you see, should the 
kingdom of God come with power, and many sinners be led to pass 
into it. 

On the minds of munyy a ^iiore than usual degree of solemnity ivill 
be apparent. Seeing their acquaintances, friends and relatives, 
who, but a short time since were as careless as themselves, and as 
disposed to neglect the concerns of their souls, now become deep- 
ly interested in these things, it will very sensibly affect them. 
They are ready to believe or fear, if they did not before, that re- 
ligion is a thing of vital importance, religion that reaches the heart 
and brings it into conformity to God. They may have thought it 
more a name than a reality; or they have- had but few serious 
thoughts upon the subject. But now they see, or suspect, their 
views were erroneous. They may have cherished the idea, that an 
inoffensive life was sufficient to secure the divine approbation and 
their eternal well-being; or, if they indulged in evil practices, and 
repentance was necessary, they expected abundant opportunity 
for the purpose before their day of grace would end. But their 
hopes, thus resting on the sand, are shaken. They begin to think 
they must have something better as an anchor for the soul, a hope 
which shall accord with the blessed gospel, and have the Rock of 
ages for its foundation. They fear their hearts are not such as 
God will approve, and that they need a renovation of the inner 
man. The day of probation they perceive to be short, and its 
continuance veiy uncertain. Death and the judgment are much 
in mind, and a fear is excited that they are not prepared to appear 
before God and render an account to him. Considerations like 
these are calculated to produce great solemnity, especially when it 
is seen that others think so much- of them, and are seeking a refuge 
for their souls. It is not strange that in a powerful revival of re- 
ligion, when some are bowed down under conviction of sin, and 
others laying hold of the hope of the gospel, many are brought to 
more serious reflection, who have spent their time in levity and 
thoughtless stupidity. Such appearances you will probably wit- 
ness, should a revival occur in your day. 

This solemnity of mind, in some cases, may lead to such a thor- 
ough self-examination, and inquiry into the nature of holiness, and 



IB 

the terms of acceptance with God, as to induce them, in view of 
their ruined state, to repair to the Ark of Safety, before the door 
is shut. 

Tlie hearing ear, and attentive eye, you will probably observe, 
in such as have pj)thing lying with great weight upon the mind. The 
concern of one excites another to that degree, that assembUng to- 
gether, and hearing the word, becomes general. Curiosity has 
much to do in this thing. There is a desire and hope to hear 
something a little different from the common strain of preaching^ 
or to witness a movement or exercise that is somewhat out of the 
usual course. The thought that many will, doubtless, go and be 
interested in any proposed meeting will have influence upon some 
to do the same, who, otherwise, would not deem it worth their 
while to take any trouble in the matter. How eagerly will people 
flock to the house of God, and to meetings for conference and 
prayer, in times of reyival, who are as totally deaf to the sound of 
the gospel as to any practical good effect, as the stones in the 
etreet ! Persons of this sort, however, or those who attend places 
©f worship from no better motives, may obtain a blessing which 
they never intended to seek. God is able to circumcise the ear, 
and cause it to hear to advantage — to send an arrow from his quiv- 
er into the most flinty heart, inflicting a wound that none but the 
great Physician can heal, and induce the soul to repair to him for 
the purpose. But numbers, it is likely, will go away as they 
came, unaffected by divine truth, and will so continue, till the re- 
vival is at an end — ^till the Holy Spirit is withdrawn, or ceases to 
operate in a special manner to the saving conversion of sinners. 
Their attention, such as it is, will subside, and they will be as 
they were before it was excited, except that they will be further 
from God, and more fixed in their habits of carnal security and 
disobedience. 

Some, you may expect to see, who will he open opposers of the 
worh. They will, perhaps, affect to despise it as a foolish and ir- 
rational thing, unworthy the attention of any but the ignorant and 
simple, and an imposition even upon them; and will amuse them- 
selves, by jeering and ridiculing it and those who are interested 
in it, or speak in its favor. Perhaps, like Elymas the sorcerer, 
they will make every possible effort to prevent others, over whom 
they have influence, from receiving the truth, and yielding to the 
operations of the Spirit. There are few revivals, it is believed, at 
the present day, which do not bring to light some characters of 
this stamp, if they were not known before. The human heait is 



13 

opposed to God and to the regenerating operations of .the Spirit, 
by which the sinner is .made to boW in humble submission. 
And this is what we understand by a revival, when the Holy Spirit 
is sent to subdue the hearts of sinners, of many sinners, causing 
them to become reconciled to God. It is then that/ his kingdom 
comes with power, when numbers are brought into it: from the 
kingdom of darkness. Now if persons can work themselves into 
a belief that this is a'delusion, as possibly some do, that there is 
no need of such humiliation on the part of man, no need of such 
bringing down of human pride, such mortifying of the passions and 
desires, that the heart is good enough by nature, and if tur^ied 
aside in any measure, may easily be brought back by a little cor- 
rection of irregular habits; if they can bring themselves to a l^e- 
lief of all this, or if they are heaven-daring enough to set at de- 
fiance what they know to, be the testimony and authority of God, 
they will be apt to openly oppose the work we call a revival, and 
think they have achieved something great, if they can persuade 
others to think and act with them, or do any thing to check the 
progress of conviction and conversion, to put a stop to the revival, 
or to disconcert the plans of its friends for its promotion. 

In some instances, such violent opposers are arrested in their mad 
career by an armthat they cannot effectually resist ,their carnal mind 
is subdued, they are made willing in the day of God's power, and 
are led to surrender unconditionally to him whose cause they op- 
posed. But many such despisers are, often, left to themselves; in 
which case they continue to oppose, and mock, and wonder, and 
perish. God, however, is able to frustrate .their wicked designs 
in regard to others, and will do it, when he is disposed to work 
like himself; destroying the kingdom of darkness, and building up 
the kingdom of light,redeeming many captives, and granting them 
the freedom and privileges of children. When he is intent on this, 
no power can withstand him. The opposers of a revival can 
neither stop, nor check it, till God has accomplished his work, 
having done all that he designed to do. They may, however, and 
will, destroy themselves, or so offend God, that he will bring upon 
them remediless destruction. Opposers of this kind you will 
doubtless see, my friends, if God should be pleased in infinite 
mercy, to pour out his Spirit abundantly in this place, while you 
are on the stage of action; if he should cause his people to be full 
of the Holy Ghost and of faith, to fight valiantly for him in the 
holy warfare, and should make deep inroads into the enemy's 
country and kingdom. 



14 

These things you will see, but they are not all. Beside true 
friends, and those that are openly hostile to religion; beside those 
who would seem to take neutral ground, caring for none of these 
things; beside real converts, who will leave the enemy's camp and 
come over to the Lord's side, being renewed and changed by the 
Holy Ghost; you will probably see some that tvill come in pretension ^ 
and bodily appearance^ but leave their souls behind. They believe 
the cause of God to be good, and that it will prosper; that they 
ought heartily to espouse it, and must, or experience the weight of 
his vengeance. They see others suffering and mourning in view 
of their guilt and danger, and then rejoicing in the hope, that God 
has blotted out their sins, and received them graciously; beholding 
these things, they feel a kind of sympathy in them. Their atten- 
tion is awake, their passions are moved, and they feel as if they 
could go all lengths with the most forward in the cause. They 
hear one and another tell the exercises of their minds, their 
emotions of fear, of sorrow, of joy, and of love, and they are ready 
to imagine, they have experienced the same in a degree, at least so 
far as love for divine things, and zeal in religious duties, are con- 
cerned. In this way, possibly, they deceive themselves, and often 
deceive others. Coming forward, as those who are turned from 
darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, they are 
considered his friends, and reckoned among the fruits of the re- 
vival. But after all, this is little else than animal feeling; their 
hearts are not changed, nor are they in any degree altered for 
the better. 

There are others, who may have had much real exercise of mind 
upon the subject of religion. They have had their alarms of con- 
science, and the terrors of the Lord set in array against them. 
They have been enlightened to see something of the wickedness 
of their hearts, and of the sinfulness , of their lives — feel a degree 
of calmness and composure of mind, and imagine they are at peace 
with God; when, in truth, they are as really his enemies as be- 
fore, and are liable to settle down at ease in Zion, and to rest sat- 
isfied with a false hope, doing little to promote the cause of reli- 
gion in the world. This will most likely be the case, if they are 
persons somewhat correct in their moral habits, and not addicted to 
glaring vice. If they are viciously disposed, and have been accus- 
tomed to indulge this evil propensity, they will, more probably, 
soon return like the dog to his vomit, and like the swine that was 
washed,to her wallowing in the mire. As to those whose religion 
consists in mere sympathetic excitement, in animal feeling, or in 



iJ 

their passions being easily affected, they may appear religious at 
times, when there is any thing to fan the flame that is kindled in 
their bosoms, or to enkindle it anew when it is extinguished. At 
other times, they will be cold and lifeless as clay. 

Among these two last classes, it will not be strange, if you see 
some who will make it manifest to the world,that their goodness is 
as the morning cloud, and as the early dew, that soon vanisheth 
away. In revivals, generally, when there are many real converts, 
there are some spurious ones, who disappoint the hopes of the 
friends of Zion, and by falling away do great injury to the cause 
they were thought to espouse. 

Should you live to witness a revival in this place, you will see 
that those who truly fear God will be filled with joy and gladness. 
They now earnestly desire such a day, unless the spirit they im- 
bibed when they embraced the Saviour, has in a measure left 
them, and like the virgins in the parable, they have fallen into a 
state of slumber and sleep. If they are alive in religion, they de- 
sire and pray that God would revive his work, that his kingdom 
might come with power, and that many might flee to the standard 
of the cross. Should their prayers be answered, and you be wit- 
nesses of the event,you will find them rejoicing that God has heard 
them, and given them the desire of their hearts. They will rejoice 
in the display of the divine perfections, to the confusion of all the 
incorrigible enemies of God, and to the salvation of all who will 
come to him through Christ. It will not give them pleasure — it 
will be a source of grief, that any should reject the offers of salva- 
tion and perish. But they will be made glad, that a goodly num- 
ber are led to bow to the sceptre of the King of Glory, that his 
kingdom is thus built up by w^illing subjects, and that the kingdom 
of the adversary is proportionably diminished. They will rejoice 
while the work is going on ; observing one and another inquiring 
the way to Zion, they will be ready to take them by the hand, and 
lead them to Christ. And when they shall see that multitudes 
have learned the way, and found the object of their pursuit, they 
will be ready to exclaim with wonder, and joy^ and gratitude^ 
^'what hath God wrought!" 

Such are the kind of things you may expect to witness, my hear- 
ers, if, before you leave the world, you shall see the kingdom of 
God come with power. 

Is not such a day much to be desired ? Should it not be desir- 
ed by all? Then let all pray for it. Christians, as has been ob- 
served, do pray for it, if they feel the power of religion on their 



16 

hearts. But they can pray, doubtless, nwre humbly, more fer- 
vently, more earnestly, and more frequently, than they have done. 
Pray for it in the closet, as well as at the family altar, and in your 
social meetings. Pray that God would not delay his coming, but 
speedily appear for us, display his sovereign power and grace, and 
gather those who have gone astray like lost sheep, into the fold of 
the true shepherd. And with your prayers, cherish the graces of 
the Spirit in your hearts. Set your affections en the things that 
are above. Love God supremely, and love «ne another with a 
pure heart, fervently. Retain no ill will or hard feelings toward 
any. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, «nd clamor, and 
evil speaking, be put av/ay from among you, .with all malice," if 
there has been any thing of the kind, "and be ye kind one to an- 
other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as you hope God 
for Christ's sake hath forgiver* yo«.'^* Endeavor to commend re- 
ligion by your pious conversation and coilfluct. Let others see 
your good works, that thoy may be convinced, religion is a valua- 
ble thing, and that a revival would be a great blessing. 

As to those of you who do not profess to be Christians, nor se- 
riously believe that you have any part or lot in the matter,can you 
feel safe in your present condition? Would it not be a great mer- 
cy, if God should pour out his Spirit upon you, shed abroad his 
love in your hearts, and give you a good hope of eternal life? Does 
it not seem desirable that he should cause his kingdom to come 
with power, and receive you all into it ? He would then take you 
under his gracious protection, suffering no essential evil to befall 
you in this world, and securing you from all evil in the world to 
come ; and not only securing you from evil, but giving you an 
earnest of the highest honors and sublimest joys in the kingdom 
of glory. Is not ail this good to be desired ? Then humble 
yourselves before God, and pray for it. Pray God to come by the 
special operations of his Spirit, to renew and purify your hearts, 
and the hearts of others, and to give you an inheritance among 
them that are sanctified. Put away your sins, which are the only 
thing that can separate between God and the soul. Repent and 
turn to the Lord in truth, and the day of which we speak will 
come. According to the number of you who shall thus turn, will 
be the extent of the revival. If all in this place will repent and 
embrace the Saviour, the revival, as it respects us, will be univer- 
sal; and the kingdom of God will come in a more extraordinary 
manner than has been known in this region in our day. Prepare 
the way of the Lord, and he will appear in his glory, and do won- 
ders among you. 



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